Bulldoggs fall to Heritage

The visiting Heritage High School Patriots got back on the winning track last Friday with a 37-12 victory against Winder-Barrow High School.

The Patriots (5-1 overall, 3-1 in Region 8-AAAAA) built an early lead and then seemed content to simply run the clock and leave W. Clair Harris Stadium with the victory. Heritage was coming off its first region loss of the season in its previous outing against Gainesville.

After going three-and-out to start the game, Heritage lined up in punt formation but Tyler Weaver went around the left end for a 62-yard score for an early 7-0 lead with 9:47 left in the first quarter.

The Patriots had moved in front 21-0 by the end of the game’s first eight minutes and seemed to be on cruise control from there.

“We wanted to get out to a fast start and get an early lead,” said Heritage coach Chad Frazier. “As hungry as Winder-Barrow is for a win, we didn’t want to let them hang around and feel like they had a chance. The fake point gave us the early momentum and we were able to keep it.”

Obe Fortune scored two touchdowns for Heritage while Dominique Packer and Myron Fears also added scores.

The Patriots also benefited from strong defensive play with two first-half interceptions.

“We work on creating turnovers,” Frazier said. “After we got the turnovers, we simply tried to pound the football and take the air out of it. That was our game plan really.”

It was another strong effort by Winder-Barrow’s Chad Platt, who had more than 200 all-purpose yards. Platt returned a kickoff for 88 yards after Heritage had taken a 34-0 lead.

Platt also scored on the final play of the game on a 60-yard run. The extra-point attempt was not tried leaving the final at 37-12.

“We will need to do some things better moving forward,” Frazier said. “We need to shore up our offensive line play. We’ll just keep getting after it and try to stay in contention for another region title.”

Heritage quarterback Ryan Sutton was 5-of-11 for 74 yards and two scores. Frazier used three quarterbacks in the contest.

WBHS will return to the road this week at Flowery Branch while Heritage will host Clarke Central in a game with playoff implications.